Flexible device

ABSTRACT

A flexible device includes a casing; a functional element mounted on the casing; and a flexible assembly which is deformable and mounted on the casing, in which a deformation of the flexible assembly drives the flexible device to deform accordingly.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a flexible device, and moreparticularly to a flexible wearable device.

BACKGROUND

More and more wearable smart devices, such as smart watches, smartbracelets, smart shoes, smart clothes, intelligent knapsacks, etc., aredesigned as more attention is paid to health. Various sensors areintegrated in the smart devices to monitor the data of human body, so asto maintain health.

Smart bracelet, due to its small size and light weight, has become oneof the most popular wearable smart devices. However, the existing smartbracelet has a basically fixed shape and cannot meet the applicationrequirements at different occasions.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a flexible device, whichmeets the application requirements at different occasions.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a flexibledevice, including a casing; a functional element mounted on the casing;and a flexible assembly which is deformable and mounted on the casing,in which a deformation of the flexible assembly drives the flexibledevice to deform accordingly.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the flexible assembly includesa movable element and a positioning element connecting with the movableelements.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the flexible assembly includestwo types of movable elements disposed at each of two opposite sides ofthe casing, and the positioning element connects the two types ofmovable elements disposed at one of the two opposite sides of the casingand the two types of movable elements disposed at the other of the twoopposite sides of the casing.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the positioning elementincludes a continuous connecting rod, an end of the connecting rod isinserted into the two types of movable elements disposed at one of thetwo opposite sides of the casing, and an opposite end of the connectingrod is inserted into the two types of movable elements disposed at theother of the two opposite sides of the casing.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the flexible assembly furtherincludes a restricting element abutted against the movable element andmovably sleeved on the positioning element, thus a damping of theflexible assembly is controlled when the flexible assembly is deformed.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the movable element includes afirst movable element and a second movable element which is movablerelative to the first movable element, and the first movable element andthe second movable element are movably connected through the positioningelement.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the first movable element isparallel to the second movable element and staggeredly connected withthe second movable element.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the second movable elementincludes a positioning slot, and the positioning element includes afirst positioning element slidably through the positioning slot.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the first positioning elementincludes a first positioning shaft and a second positioning shaft spacedapart from the first positioning shaft, and both the first positioningshaft and the second positioning shaft pass through the positioningslot.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, a distance between the firstpositioning shaft and the second positioning shaft of the firstpositioning element is unchanged with the deformation of the flexibleassembly.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, an end of the firstpositioning shaft of the first positioning element passes through thepositioning slot, a nut including an elastic piece is sleeved on the endof the first positioning shaft, and the elastic piece is disposedbetween the nut and the second movable element and elastically abuttedagainst the nut and the second movable element.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the second movable elementfurther includes a through-hole spaced apart from the positioning slot,and the positioning element further includes a second positioningelement through the through-hole.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, a length of the secondpositioning element is greater than that of the first positioningelement.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the second positioning elementincludes a first positioning shaft and a second positioning shaft, andthe second positioning shaft of the second positioning element connectstwo second movable elements disposed at the two opposite sides of thecasing.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the casing includes a firstconnector and a second connector which are spaced apart from each otherand connected with the flexible assembly.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the first connector and thesecond connector remain spaced apart from each other when the flexibleassembly is deformed.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the first connector and thesecond connector have different structures, and a plurality of the firstconnectors and a plurality of the second connectors are alternatelyarranged to constitute the casing.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the first connector and thesecond connector each includes a baseplate, and a bottom of the flexibleassembly is abutted against and fixed to the baseplates of the firstconnector and the second connector.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, each of the first movableelement and the second movable element is abutted against the baseplatesof the first connector and the second connector.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the first connector and thesecond connector each include a baffle protruded on a surface of thebaseplate, and the first movable element and the second movable elementare together disposed between the baffles of the first connector and thesecond connector.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the baffle of the firstconnector is abutted against an outer surface of the first movableelement, and the baffle of the second connector is abutted against aninner surface of the second movable element.

By using the deformable flexible assembly, the flexible device may bedriven by the flexible assembly to deform among different shapes, so asto meet the application requirements at different occasions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Drawings which will be involved in the following description ofembodiments will be introduced below in brief for illustrating technicalsolutions in embodiments of the present disclosure more clearly, it willbe appreciated that drawings described below are just someimplementations of the present disclosure, and other modifications canalso be obtained by those who skilled in the art, without creative work.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a flexible device according to embodimentsof the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an inverted view of the flexible device as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial explosive view of the flexible device as shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the flexible device as shown in FIG. 1which is deformed into a bracelet, where functional elements areremoved.

FIG. 5 is a further explosive view of the flexible device as shown inFIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a partial enlarged view of the flexible device as shown inFIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is another partial enlarged view of the flexible device as shownin FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a partial explosive view of the flexible device as shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a partial enlarged view of the flexible device as shown inFIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is another partial enlarged view of the flexible device as shownin FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is schematic diagram of a first movable element and a secondmovable element of the flexible device as shown in FIG. 1 in a firststate.

FIG. 12 is schematic diagram of a first movable element and a secondmovable element of the flexible device as shown in FIG. 1 in a secondstate.

FIGS. 13-15 are schematic diagrams illustrating a state switchingprinciple of the first movable element and the second movable element asshown in FIGS. 11-12.

FIG. 16 is a sectional view of the flexible device as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 17 is a partially enlarged view of the flexible device as shown inFIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a sectional view of the flexible device as shown in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following, embodiments of the present disclosure will bedescribed clearly with reference to drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, which illustrate a flexible device according toembodiments of the present disclosure, the flexible device includes acasing 10, a flexible assembly 20 disposed in the casing 10 and afunctional element 30 disposed on the casing 10. The flexible assembly20 is deformable so as to drive the flexible device to deform, therebyenabling the flexible device to adapt to the application requirements atdifferent occasions.

Further referring to FIG. 4, the deformation of the flexible deviceincludes a transformation from a plate shape to a ring shape. When theflexible device is in the plate shape, the flexible device is spread outto facilitate users to operate; when the flexible device is in the ringshape, the flexible device is curled to facilitate users to wear as awearable device. Of course, the deformation of the flexible device mayinclude other types, which can be determined according to requirements,so as to meet the needs at more application occasions. For example, theflexible device may be transformed from an arch shape to a ring shape,from a plate shape to a wave-shape, or from a U shape to an S shape.

Further referring to FIGS. 5-7, the flexible assembly 20 includesmovable elements 200 positioned at each of two opposite sides of thecasing 10. The movable element 200 positioned at each side of the casing10 includes a first movable element 22 and a second movable element 24movably connected with the first movable element 22. In embodiments ofthe present disclosure, there are a plurality of the first movableelements 22 and a plurality of the second movable elements 24, and bothof the plurality of the first movable elements 22 and the plurality ofthe second movable elements 24 are distributed at each of the twoopposite sides of the casing 10. That is, at each side of the casing 10,there are provided with several first movable elements 22 and severalsecond movable elements 24. The first movable elements 22 are closer toan outer side of the casing 10 than the second movable elements 24. Thefirst movable elements 22 at each side of the casing 10 are linearlyaligned, each of the first movable elements 22 is not directly connectedwith an adjacent one. The second movable elements 24 at each side of thecasing 10 are linearly aligned, each of the second movable elements 24is not directly connected with an adjacent one. The first movableelements 22 and the second movable elements 24 adjacent theretodisposing at the same side of the casing 10 are staggeredly connectedwith each other. Particularly, each first movable element 22 is parallelto two second movable elements 24 adjacent thereto and each firstmovable element 22 is staggeredly connected with the two second movableelements 24.

The first movable element 22 and the second movable element 24 have thesame shape and structure. In an embodiment of the present disclosure,both the first movable element 22 and the second movable element 24 arehinges. The first movable element 22 is substantially trapezoidal inshape, and includes a flat bottom surface 220, two inclined sidesurfaces 222 and a bended top surface 224. The bottom surface 220 of thefirst movable element 22 is a plane, and is parallel to the functionalelement 30 when the functional element 30 is not deformed. Each sidesurface 222 of the first movable element 22 is a plane and is inclinedrelative to the bottom surface 220. An inner angle between each sidesurface 222 and the bottom surface 220 is an obtuse angle, which isgreater than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees. To be optimized, theangle is greater than 100 degrees and less than 110 degrees. The twoside surfaces 222 extend upward in opposite directions to connect thebottom surface 220 and the top surface 224. The top surface 224 of thefirst movable element 22 is an arch surface, which forms a supportingsurface of the first movable element 22. Height of the top surface 224gradually increases from two opposite ends to a middle part thereof, anda convex surface is formed thereby. It will be appreciated that, the topsurface 224 may also be other types of convex surfaces, such as a convexsurface having a shape of half of a hexahedron (similar to trapezoid), aconvex surface having a shape of half of an octahedron (similar to atrapezoid plus a rectangle below the trapezoid), a convex surface havinga shape of half of a decahedron and so on. Herein, an angle formed bytwo opposite end points of an arc surface with a center of a circlewhere the arc surface is located is defined as a span angle. A spanangle of the top surface 224 is greater than 10 degrees and less than 30degrees.

The first movable element 22 is provided with a positioning slot 226.The positioning slot 226 is communicated with a front surface (i.e., aninner surface of the first movable element 22) and a rear surface (i.e.,an outer surface of the first movable element 22) of the first movableelement 22, and is close to one of the two side surfaces 222 of thefirst movable element 22. The positioning slot 226 is in an arc shape,and its bending direction is opposite to that of the top surface 224.Height of the positioning slot 226 gradually decreases from two oppositeends to a middle part thereof. The positioning slot 226 includes a firstarc surface, a second arc surface and two arc connecting surfacesconnecting the first arc surface and the second arc surface. The firstarc surface is parallel to and concentric with the second arc surface. Alength of the first arc surface is less than that of the second arcsurface. The arc connecting surface is substantially semicircular inshape, so as to form fillets at the two opposite ends of the positioningslot 226. A span angle of the positioning slot 226 is greater than thatof the top surface 224. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, thespan angle of the positioning slot 226 is greater than 70 degrees andless than 90 degrees.

The first movable element 22 is further provided with a positioning hole228. The positioning hole 228 is also communicated with the frontsurface and the rear surface of the first movable element 22. Inembodiments of the present disclosure, the positioning hole 228 includesa first positioning hole and a second positioning hole. The firstpositioning hole is close to a middle part of the first movable element22, and the second positioning hole is close to the other of the twoside surfaces 222 of the first movable element 22. The positioning hole228 is higher than a lowest point of the positioning slot 226 and islower than a highest point of the positioning slot 226.

As the second movable element 24 has a same shape and structure with thefirst movable element 22, parts included in the second movable element24 and sizes and positions of the parts can be referred to that of thefirst movable element 22. The second movable element 24 is substantiallytrapezoidal in shape, and includes a flat bottom surface 240, twoinclined side surfaces 242, and a bended top surface 244. The bottomsurface 240 of the second movable element 24 is a plane, and is parallelto the functional element 30 when the functional element 30 is notdeformed. Each side surface 242 is a plane and is inclined relative tothe bottom surface 240. An inner angle between each side surface 242 andthe bottom surface 240 is an obtuse angle, which is greater than 90degrees and less than 180 degrees, such as greater than 100 degrees andless than 110 degrees. The two side surfaces 242 extend upward inopposite directions to connect the bottom surface 240 and the topsurface 244. The top surface 244 of the second movable element 24 is anarch surface, which forms a supporting surface of the second movableelement 24. Height of the top surface 244 gradually increases from twoopposite ends to a middle part thereof, and a convex surface is formedthereby. A span angle of the top surface 244 is greater than 10 degreesand less than 30 degrees. It will be appreciated that, the top surface224 may also be other types of convex surfaces, such as a convex surfacehaving a shape of half of a hexahedron, a convex surface having a shapeof half of an octahedron, a convex surface having a shape of half of adecahedron and so on.

The second movable element 24 is provided with a positioning slot 246.The positioning slot 246 is communicated with a front surface (i.e., aninner surface) and a rear surface (i.e., an outer surface) of the secondmovable element 24, and is close to one of the two side surfaces 242 ofthe second movable element 24. The positioning slot 246 is in an arcshape, and its bending direction is opposite to that of the top surface244. Height of the positioning slot 246 gradually decreases from twoopposite ends to a middle part thereof. The positioning slot 246includes a first arc surface, a second arc surface and two arcconnecting surfaces for connecting the first arc surface and the secondarc surface. The first arc surface is parallel to and concentric withthe second arc surface. A length of the first arc surface is less thanthat of the second arc surface. The arc connecting surface issubstantially semicircular in shape, so as to form fillets at the twoopposite ends of the positioning slot 246. A span angle of thepositioning slot 246 is greater than that of the top surface 244. In anembodiment of the present disclosure, the span angle of the positioningslot 246 is greater than 70 degrees and less than 90 degrees.

The second movable element 24 is further provided with a positioninghole 248. The positioning hole 248 is also communicated with the frontsurface and the rear surface of the second movable element 24. Inembodiments of the present disclosure, the positioning hole 248 includesa first positioning hole and a second positioning hole. The firstpositioning hole is close to a middle part of the second movable element24, and the second positioning hole is close to the other of the twoside surfaces 242 of the second movable element 24. The positioning hole248 is higher than a lowest point of the positioning slot 246 and islower than a highest point of the positioning slot 246.

The flexible assembly 20 further includes a positioning element 202connected with the movable element 200. Particularly, the first movableelement 22 is staggeredly connected with the second movable element 24adjacent thereto through the positioning element 202, and part of thefront surface of the first movable element 22 is in contact with part ofthe rear surface of the second movable element 24. The positioningelement 202 can slide in the positioning slots 226, 246, thereby drivingthe first movable element 22 to move relative to the second movableelement 24. In embodiments of the present disclosure, the positioningelement 202 includes a first positioning element 26 and a secondpositioning element 28. The second positioning element 28 is configuredto connect the first movable element 22 with one of the two secondmovable elements 24 adjacent to the first movable element 22, and thefirst positioning element 26 is configured to connect the first movableelement 22 with the other of the two second movable elements 24 adjacentto the first movable element 22. Structure of the second positioningelement 28 may be same with or different from that of the firstpositioning element 26. In embodiments of the present disclosure, thefirst positioning element 26 include a first positioning shaft 260 and asecond positioning shaft 262, and the second positioning element 28include a first positioning shaft 280 and a second positioning shaft282. The first positioning shaft 280 and the second positioning shaft282 of the second positioning element 28 pass through the positioningslot 226 of the first movable element 22 and then respectively passthrough two positioning holes 248 of one of the two second movableelements 24 adjacent to the first movable element 22; and the firstpositioning shaft 260 and the second positioning shaft 262 of the firstpositioning element 26 respectively pass through the two positioningholes 228 of the first movable element 22 and then pass through thepositioning slot 246 of the other of the two second movable elements 24adjacent to the first movable element 22. The first positioning shaft260 and the second positioning shaft 262 of the first positioningelement 26 are spaced apart from each other, and a distance between thefirst positioning shaft 260 and the second positioning shaft 262 isunchanged with the deformation of the flexible assembly 20. The firstpositioning shaft 280 and the second positioning shaft 282 of the secondpositioning element 28 are spaced apart from each other, and a distancebetween the first positioning shaft 280 and the second positioning shaft282 is unchanged with the deformation of the flexible assembly 20.

The first positioning shaft 280 and the second positioning shaft 282 ofthe second positioning element 28 may have the same or differentstructures; and the first positioning shaft 260 and the secondpositioning shaft 262 of the first positioning element 26 may have thesame or different structures. The structure of the first positioningshaft 280 of the second positioning element 28 may be the same with ordifferent from that of the first positioning shaft 260 or the secondpositioning shaft 262 of the first positioning element 26; and thestructure of the second positioning shaft 282 of the second positioningelement 28 may be the same with or different from that of the firstpositioning shaft 260 or the second positioning shaft 262 of the firstpositioning element 26. In embodiments of the present disclosure, thestructures of the first positioning shaft 280 and the second positioningshaft 282 of the second positioning element 28 and the first positioningshaft 260 and the second positioning shaft 262 of the first positioningelement 26 are different from one another. The second positioning shaft282, the first positioning shaft 280, the first positioning shaft 260and the second positioning shaft 262 decrease successively in length.The first positioning shaft 280 of the second positioning element 28includes a screw, and the screw includes a nut and a threaded rodvertically extending from the nut. The threaded rod passes through apositioning slot 226 of a first movable element 22 and enters into oneof two positioning holes 248 of one of two second movable elements 24adjacent to the first movable element 22. The nut is abutted against therear surface of the first movable element 22 to prevent the firstpositioning shaft 280 from falling off. The second positioning shaft 282of the second positioning element 28 includes a continuous connectingrod, which has a longitudinal structure. The connecting rod passesthough the positioning slot 226 of the first movable element 22 and theother of the two positioning holes 248 of the one of the two secondmovable elements 24 adjacent to the first movable element 22 at one ofthe two opposite sides of the flexible device, and passes through apositioning hole 248 of a second movable element 24 at the other of thetwo opposite sides of the flexible device and a positioning slot 226 ofa first movable element 22 adjacent to the second movable element 24 atthe other of the two opposite sides of the flexible device. Thereby, theconnecting rod connects the movable elements 200 at the two oppositesides of the flexible device, in particular, connects the first movableelement 22 and the second movable element 24 of the movable element 200at one of the two opposite sides of the flexible device with the firstmovable element 22 and the second movable element 24 of the movableelement 200 at the other of the two opposite sides of the flexibledevice, so as to strengthen the structure of the flexible device. Thefirst positioning shaft 260 of the first positioning element 26 includesa threaded rod, which passes through one of two positioning holes 228 ofthe first movable element 22 and enters into the positioning slot 246 ofthe other of the two second movable elements 24 adjacent to the firstmovable element 22. The second positioning shaft 262 of the firstpositioning element 26 includes a pillar, which passes through the otherof the two positioning holes 228 of the first movable element 22 andenters into the positioning slot 246 of the other of the two secondmovable elements 24 adjacent to the first movable element 22. The firstpositioning shaft 280 of the second positioning element 28 connects thefirst movable element 22 with one of the two second movable elements 24adjacent to the first movable element 22 at the same side of theflexible device; the second positioning shaft 282 of the secondpositioning element 28 connects the first movable element 22 and one ofthe two second movable elements 24 adjacent to the first movable element22 at one of the two opposite sides of the flexible device with thefirst movable element 22 and one of the two second movable elements 24adjacent to the first movable element 22 at the other of the twoopposite sides of the flexible device; the first positioning shaft 260of the first positioning element 26 connects the first movable element22 with the other of the two second movable elements 24 adjacent to thefirst movable element 22 at the same side of the flexible device; andthe second positioning shaft 262 of the first positioning element 26connects the first movable element 22 with the other of the two secondmovable elements 24 adjacent to the first movable element 22 at the sameside of the flexible device. Diameters of the first positioning shaft280 and the second positioning shaft 282 are equal to or slightly lessthan a width of the positioning slot 226, such that the firstpositioning shaft 280 and the second positioning shaft 282 can beclosely fitted in the positioning slot 226; and diameters of the firstpositioning shaft 260 and the second positioning shaft 262 are equal toor slightly less than a width of the positioning slot 246, such that thefirst positioning shaft 260 and the second positioning shaft 262 can beclosely fitted in the positioning slot 246. A distance between the firstpositioning shaft 280 and the second positioning shaft 282 of the secondpositioning element 28 is less than the length of the positioning slot226, such that the first positioning shaft 280 and the secondpositioning shaft 282 can slide in the positioning slot 226; and adistance between the first positioning shaft 260 and the secondpositioning shaft 262 of the first positioning element 26 is less thanthe length of the positioning slot 246, such that the first positioningshaft 260 and the second positioning shaft 262 can slide in thepositioning slot 246, thereby driving the first movable element 22 tomove relative to the second movable element 24.

The flexible assembly 20 further includes a restricting element 204abutted against the movable element 200 and the restricting element 204is movably sleeved on the positioning element 202 such that a force iscontrolled to be applied to the movable element 200, thus adjusting adamping when the flexible assembly 20 is deformed. Particularly, thefirst positioning shaft 280 of the second positioning element 28 islocked in the restricting element 204 after passing through thepositioning slot 226, and the first positioning shaft 260 of the firstpositioning element 26 is locked in the restricting element 204 afterpassing through the positioning slot 246. In embodiments of the presentdisclosure, the restricting element 204 is a nut 270 with an elasticpiece 272, and is locked with the first positioning shaft 260 or thefirst positioning shaft 280 through threads. The elastic piece 272 iselastically abutted against and disposed between the nut 270 and thefront surface of the first movable element 22 or the second movableelement 24. Moreover, an elastic force supplied by the elastic piece 272to the first movable element 22 or the second movable element 24 can beadjusted by adjusting a locking degree between the restricting element204 and the first positioning shaft 260 or the first positioning shaft280, so as to control the damping of the flexible assembly when theflexible assembly 20 rotates. The flexible assembly 20 can be kept inany state if the damping is adjusted to a suitable value, so as to meetdifferent needs for shape.

When the functional element 30 includes a flexible functional screen 32,such as a flexible touch screen, a flexible display or a combinationthereof, due to properties of the material itself, the flexiblefunctional screen 32 is not resistant to stretch or compression. Inorder to reduce or even prevent the stretch or compression of theflexible functional screen 32 when the flexible device is deformed, thepresent disclosure further provides embodiments where the structures andconnecting relationship of the first movable element 22 and the secondmovable element 24 are further improved.

Further referring to FIGS. 11-12, as the flexible touch screen or theflexible display includes a flexible material, in order to facilitateoperations or watching, the functional element 30 further includes asupporting plate 34 fixed below the flexible touch screen or theflexible display. The supporting plate 34 has the same area and shape asthat of the flexible functional screen 32, and is made of an elasticmaterial with a higher hardness, such as a steel sheet, an iron sheet, acopper sheet and so on. Hardness of the supporting plate 34 is greaterthan that of the flexible functional screen 32. The supporting plate 34is fixed on the first movable element 22 and the second movable element24. In embodiments of the present disclosure, the supporting plate 34 isfixed on the supporting surfaces (i.e., top surfaces 224, 244) of thefirst movable element 22 and the second movable element 24. As thesupporting surfaces are convex arc surfaces, the supporting plate 34 isfixed to top parts of the supporting surfaces, i.e., fixing points ofthe supporting surface are the top parts of the supporting surfaces.Certainly, if the top surfaces 224, 244 of the first movable element 22and the second movable element 24 are in other shapes, the fixing pointsmay also be other position points on the top surfaces 224, 244 of thefirst movable element 22 and the second movable element 24. Further,term “fixing point” is merely for convenience of description, whichessentially refers to the top parts of the top surfaces 224, 244 and mayinclude a region, and thus shall not be construed or limited to acertain single point. The supporting plate 34 is fixed to the top partof the top surface 224, 244 of each of the first movable elements 22 andthe second movable elements 24 at each side of the flexible device, andis separated from other parts of the top surface 224, 244 of the firstmovable element 22 and the second movable element 24. The supportingplate 34 may be fixed to the first movable element 22 and the secondmovable element 24 by means of welding and bonding.

As the positioning slot 246 of the second movable element 24 is in thearc shape, when the second movable element 24 moves relative to thefirst movable element 22, the positioning slot 246 of the second movableelement 24 is restricted by the first positioning shaft 260 and thesecond positioning shaft 262 of the first positioning element 26connecting the first movable element 22 and the second movable element24, such that the second movable element 24 moves along a trajectory ofthe positioning slot 246. Specifically, when the second movable element24 rotates relative to the first movable element 22, the second movableelement 24 also translates relative to the first movable element 22,that is, the movement of the second movable element 24 relative to thefirst movable element 22 includes both a rotation and a translation. Arotation direction of the second movable element 24 is clockwiserelative to the first movable element 22, and a translation direction ofthe second movable element 24 is towards the positioning slot 226 of thefirst movable element 22.

Further, as the positioning slot 246 of the second movable element 24 isin the arc shape, it has a corresponding center, i.e., a rotation centerO of the second movable element 24. Term “rotation center” used hereinindicates that a distance from any point of an element to the rotationcenter is constant when the element rotates around the rotation center.A bending direction of a moving trajectory of the second movable element24 around the rotation center O thereof is opposite to the bendingdirection of the top surface 244 of the second movable element 24. Inembodiments of the present disclosure, the rotation center O of thesecond movable element 24 is higher than a thickness center of thesecond movable element 24. In an embodiment of the present disclosure,the rotation center O of the second movable element 24 is flush with thetop part of the supporting surface of the second movable element 24 orhigher than the second movable element 24. As the rotation center O ofthe second movable element 24 is higher than the thickness center of thesecond movable element 24, a length difference caused by the thicknessof the second movable element 24 in the rotation of the second movableelement 24 around the rotation center O can be reduced. In order to makethe expression clear and simple, as shown in FIGS. 13-15, it is assumedthat, both the first movable element 22 and the second movable element24 have cubic bodies, and centers C of top surfaces of the cubic bodiesare the fixing points of the first movable element 22 and the secondmovable element 24, respectively, a distance between the center C of thetop surface of the first movable element 22 and an end of the secondmovable element 24 adjacent to the first movable element 22 (hereinafterreferred to as a first end of the second movable element 24) is recordedas S1, and a distance between the first end of the second movableelement 24 and the center C of the top surface of the second movableelement 24 is recorded as S2. If the rotation center O of the secondmovable element 24 is flush with the thickness center of the secondmovable element 24, as shown in FIG. 13, the distance between the centerC of the top surface of the first movable element 22 and the center C ofthe top surface of the second movable element 24 is S1+S2 when thesecond movable element 24 does not rotate. As shown in FIG. 14, when thesecond movable element 24 rotates around the rotation center O, as therotation center O is lower than the top surface of the second movableelement 24, a displacement L is caused by the rotation of the first endof the second movable element 24 to its position before the rotation atthe top surface of the first movable element 22. In such a case, alongthe top surfaces of the first movable element 22 and the second movableelement 24, the distance between the center C of the top surfaces of thefirst movable element 22 and the center C of the second movable element24 is S1+S2+L. Clearly, due to the displacement L, the length differenceoccurs at the distance between the center C of the top surface of thefirst movable element 22 and the center C of the top surface of thesecond movable element 24 along the top surfaces of the first movableelement 22 and the second movable element 24. As shown in FIG. 15, ifthe rotation center O of the second movable element 24 is flush with thetop surface of the second movable element 24, the distance between thecenter C of the top surface of the first movable element 22 and thecenter C of the top surface of the second movable element 24 along thetop surfaces of the first movable element 22 and the second movableelement 24 will always be S1+S2 when the second movable element 24rotates around the rotation center O, thereby avoiding the lengthdifference. Therefore, it can be seen that, in a thickness direction ofthe second movable element 24, from the thickness center to the topsurface of the second movable element 24, the higher the rotation centerO of the second movable element 24 is, the lower the length differenceis.

On the contrary, the longer the length difference is, which indicatesthat the longer the distance from the center C of the top surface of thefirst movable element 22 to the center C of the top surface of thesecond movable element 24 along the top surfaces of the first movableelement 22 and the second movable element 24 is. As the supporting plate34 is fixed to the fixing point (i.e., the center C of the top surface)of the first movable element 22 and the fixing point (i.e., the center Cof the top surface) of the second movable element 24 simultaneously, ifthe distance from the fixing point of the first movable element 22 tothe fixing point of the second movable element 24 along the topssurfaces of the first movable element 22 and the second movable element24 becomes longer, it means that the supporting plate 34 between the twofixing points will become longer correspondingly, thereby resulting in atensile deformation of the supporting plate 34 between the two fixingpoints.

Based on principles described above, in order to reduce or prevent thetensile deformation of the supporting plate 34 between the two fixingpoints, in embodiments of the present disclosure, the rotation center Oof the second movable element 24 is set to be higher than the thicknesscenter of the second movable element 24, and more particularly to beflush with the fixing point of the second movable element 24. Certainly,the rotation center O may also be set at the supporting plate 34, andmore particularly at a top surface (i.e., a first surface) of thesupporting plate 34.

Further, in embodiments of the present disclosure, the top surfaces 224,244 of the first movable element 22 and the second movable element 24are arc surfaces, and together constitute a continuous arc surface whenthe second movable element 24 rotates around the first movable element22, such that the flexible device as a whole is formed into a circularring. Moreover, projections of the top surfaces 224, 244 of the firstmovable element 22 and the second movable element 24 in a planeperpendicular to the top surfaces 224, 244 together constitute acontinuous arc. Therefore, part of the supporting plate 34 between thefixing point of the first movable element 22 and the fixing point of thesecond movable element 24 has to be bent into an arc consistent with thetop surfaces 224, 244 of the first movable element 22 and the secondmovable element 24, so as to ensure that the supporting plate 34 can betightly attached to the continuous arc surface constituted by the firstmovable element 22 and the second movable element 24 after the movementof the second movable element 24 relative to the first movable element22. As a length of an arc is longer than that of a straight line, moreparticularly, a length of an arc defined together by the fixing point ofthe first movable element 22, the fixing point of the second movableelement 24 and the rotation center O of the second movable element (itis set that the rotation center O is located at the top surface 224 ofthe first movable element 22) is greater than a sum of a linear distancefrom the fixing point of the first movable element 22 to the rotationcenter O of the second movable element 24 and a linear distance from thefixing point of the second movable element 24 to the rotation center Oof the second movable element 24, if no correction is made, a lengthdifference between the length of the arc and the linear distance willalso result in the stretch of the supporting plate 34. Therefore, therotation center O of the second movable element 24 should be furtheradjusted to reduce or offset the length difference between the length ofthe arc and the linear distance. Referring to FIGS. 11-12, inembodiments of the present disclosure, the rotation center O of thesecond movable element 24 should be higher than the top surface of thesupporting plate 34, such that the second movable element 24 can furthertranslate towards the first movable element 22 when rotating around therotation center O, so as to reduce or offset the length differencebetween the length of the arc and the linear distance. In embodiments ofthe present disclosure, a ratio of a distance between the rotationcenter O of the second movable element 24 and the top surface of thesupporting plate 34 to a thickness of the supporting plate 34 is between0.1 and 0.5. As the rotation center O of the second movable element 24is higher than the top surface of the supporting plate 34, a position ofthe rotation center O is constant relative to the first movable element22, in other words, the position of the rotation center O relative tothe first movable element 22 is unchanged with the movement of thesecond movable element 24 relative to the first movable element 22.Certainly, if the rotation center O is located at the top surface of thesupporting plate 34 or the top surface 224 of the first movable element22, the position of the rotation center O relative to the first movableelement 22 is also constant. Further, the rotation center O may belocated at the flexible functional screen 32 or even higher than theflexible functional screen 32. In addition, as the rotation center O ofthe second movable element 24 is higher than the top surface of thesupporting plate 34, the rotation center O is higher than a lower part(i.e., the supporting plate 34) of the flexible functional element 30with a higher hardness and higher than or flush with an upper part(i.e., the flexible functional screen 32) of the flexible functionalelement 30 with a lower hardness.

When the flexible device is in a first state, such as in a plate state,the second movable element 24 is extended relative to the first movableelement 22, the second movable element 24 is parallel to and flush withthe first movable element 22, the first positioning shaft 260 of thefirst positioning element 26 is abutted against a first end of thepositioning slot 246 of the second movable element 24. The secondpositioning shaft 262 of the first positioning element 26 is separatedfrom a second end of the positioning slot 246 of the second movableelement 24, and the first end and the second end are located at twoopposite ends of the positioning slot 246, respectively. When theflexible device is in a second state (such as in a circular ring state),the second movable element 24 is retracted and inclined relative to thefirst movable element 22, an angle is formed between the first movableelement 22 and the second movable element 24. The first positioningshaft 260 of the first positioning element 26 is separated from thefirst end of the positioning slot 246 of the second movable element 24,and the second positioning shaft 262 of the first positioning element 26is abutted against the second end of the positioning slot 246 of thesecond movable element 24. Similarly, the second positioning element 28has a position relationship similar to that of the first positioningelement 26 when the flexible device is in different states, which willnot be elaborated herein.

As the supporting plate 34 is only fixed to the top parts of the topsurfaces 224, 226 of the first movable element 22 and the second movableelement 24, a bottom surface (i.e., a second surface) of the supportingplate 34 is separated from other parts of the top surfaces 224, 226 ofthe first movable element 22 and the second movable element 24 when theflexible device is in the first state. The supporting plate 34 is incontact with other parts of the top surfaces 224, 226 of the firstmovable element 22 and the second movable element 24 when the flexibledevice is in the second state. When the flexible device is in the secondstate, the contact area between the supporting plate 34 and the topsurface 224 of the first movable element 22 or the top surface 226 ofthe second movable element 24 is greater than that when the flexibledevice is in the first state.

In particular, a position on the top surface of the supporting plate 34corresponding to the fixing point of the first movable element 22 isdefined as a first reference point P1, and a position on the top surfaceof the supporting plate 34 corresponding to the fixing point of thesecond movable element 24 is defined as a second reference point P2. Alength of an arc from the first reference point P1 to the secondreference point P2 on the top surface of the supporting plate 34 whenthe flexible device is in the second state is equal to a linear distancebetween the first reference point P1 and the second reference point P2when the flexible device is in the first state, Thereby, it is ensuredthat the length of the top surface of the supporting plate 34 isunchanged with the deformation of the flexible device.

It will be appreciated that, the first positioning element 26 may onlyinclude the first positioning shaft 260, then the first positioningelement 26 is the first positioning shaft 260, and the positioning slot246 of the second movable element 24 is shortened accordingly; also, thesecond positioning element 28 may only include the first positioningshaft 280, then the second positioning element 28 is the firstpositioning shaft 280, and the positioning slot 226 of the first movableelement 22 is shortened accordingly, in such a configuration, the sameeffects as achieved in the configuration described hereinbefore wherethe first positioning shafts 260, 280 and the second positioning shaft262, 282 are included simultaneously can also be achieved. It also willbe appreciated that, in a certain case, the positioning element 202 mayonly include the second positioning element 28, then the positioningelement 202 is the second positioning element 28. Correspondingly, thefirst movable elements 22 and the second movable elements 24 arestacked, for example, a 1^(st) first movable element 22 is disposed atan outer side of a 1^(st) second movable element 24, a 2^(nd) secondmovable element 24 is further disposed at an outer side of the 1^(st)first movable element 22, a 2^(nd) first movable element 22 is furtherdisposed at an outer side of the 2^(nd) second movable element 24, andso on. Each positioning element 24 passes through an overlapped place ofthe corresponding first movable element 22 and second movable element24. In such a case, the flexible device can also be transformed amongdifferent configurations, and stretch of the flexible functional element30 will not occur or will be reduced. It will also be appreciated that,in extreme case, the flexible assembly 20 may only include one firstmovable element 22 and one second movable element 24 at each of the twoopposite sides thereof; or only include one first movable element 22 atone of the two opposite sides thereof and one second movable element 24at the other of the two opposite sides thereof; the flexible assembly 20even may be disposed at the middle part of the casing 10, in thesecases, the flexible device can also be switched among differentconfigurations, and stretch of the flexible functional element 30 willnot occur or will be reduced.

Further referring to FIG. 7, the casing 10 includes a plurality ofconnectors 100. These connectors 100 include several first connectors 12and several second connectors 14. The first connectors 12 and secondconnectors 14 are alternately arranged and spaced apart from each other.The first connector 12 and the second connector 14 may be made of hardmaterials, such as plastics, metals and the like, so as to protect anelectronic device contained in the casing 10. The first connector 12 andthe second connector 14 may have the same or different structures. Inembodiments of the present disclosure, the first connector 12 and thesecond connector 14 have different structures. The first connector 12includes a baseplate 120 and side walls 122 extending upwards from twoopposite ends of the baseplate 120, and the second connector 14 includesa baseplate 140 and side walls 142 extending upward from two oppositeends of the baseplate 140. The baseplate 120 of the first connector 12includes two protruded steps 124, which are near the two opposite endsof the baseplate 120, respectively, and adjacent to the correspondingside wall 122; and the baseplate 140 of the second connector 14 includestwo protruded steps 144 which are near the two opposite ends of thebaseplate 140, respectively, and adjacent to the corresponding side wall142. The first connector 12 includes a protruded baffle 126 on each step124, and a height of the baffle 126 is greater than that of the step124; the second connector 14 includes a protruded baffle 146 on eachstep 144, and a height of the baffle 146 is greater than that of thestep 144. The baffle 146 of the second connector 14 is located at aninner side of the step 144 and away from the corresponding side wall142, and the baffle 126 of the first connector 12 is located at an outerside of the step 124 and close to the corresponding side wall 122. Thebaffle 126 of the first connector 12 is spaced apart from the nearestside wall 122; and the baffle 146 of the second connector 14 is spacedapart from the nearest side wall 124. The first connector 12 and thesecond connector 14 remains spaced apart from each other and a slot isformed therebetween, no matter the flexible device is in the firststate, the second state or other states between the first state and thesecond state. When the flexible assembly 20 is deformed, the firstconnector 12 and the second connector 14 moves relative to each other,but always remain spaced apart from each other.

The first connector 12 is provided with a screw hole in each step 124,and the second connector 14 is provided with a screw hole in each step144. Each first connector 12 and one second connector 14 adjacent to thefirst connector 12 constitute a connector group to connect and support amovable element group constituted by one first movable element 22 andone second movable element 24 adjacent to the first movable element 22.The first connectors 12 and the second connectors 14 are arranged sideby side, and the first movable element 22 and the second movable element24 each are disposed on and abutted against top surfaces of the steps124, 144 at the same side of the first connector 12 and the secondconnector 14. The first movable element 22 is close to the baffle 126 ofthe first connector 12, and the second movable element 24 is close tothe baffle 146 of the second connector 14, such that the first movableelement 22 and the second movable element 24 are misaligned from eachother. The baffle 126 of the first connector 12 is abutted against theouter surface of the first movable element 22, and the baffle 146 of thesecond connector 14 is abutted against the inner surface of the secondmovable element 24, so as to together restrict the first movable element22 and the second movable element 24 between the baffle 126 of the firstconnector 12 and the baffle 146 of the second connector 14. Two screwspass through the screw holes of the first connector 12 and the secondconnector 14 and enter into the bottom surfaces of the first movableelement 22 and the second movable element 24, respectively, so as tofurther lock the first movable element 22 and the second movable element24 on the first connector 12 and the second connector 14. A plurality ofconnector groups are successively connected in series to form the casing10 of the flexible device, and a plurality of movable element groups aresuccessively connected in series to form the flexible assembly 20 of theflexible assembly 20.

The first connector 12 is provided with a flange 128 on top part of eachside wall 122 and close to an outer side of the side wall 122, and theflange 128 is higher than the top part of the side wall 122; the secondconnector 14 is provided with a flange 148 on top part of each side wall142 and close to an outer side of the side wall 142, and the flange 148is higher than the top part of the side wall 142. The top part of theside wall 122 is cooperated with the flange 128, and the top part of theside wall 142 is cooperated with the flange 148, so as to support andrestrict the supporting plate 34. A bottom surface of a margin of thesupporting plate 34 is abutted against the top surfaces of the sidewalls 122, 124, and a side surface of the margin of the supporting plate34 is abutted against inner sides of the flanges 128, 148. Thereby, themargin of the supporting plate 34 at two opposite sides thereof isrestricted by the flanges 128, 148.

Further referring to FIG. 3, the supporting plate 34 and the casing 10together define a hollow chamber for accommodating the electronicdevice. The electronic device may include a controller 40 forcontrolling the functional element 30, a battery 50 (i.e., a firstbattery) for supplying power to the functional element 30 and thecontroller 40, and a communication module for communicating the flexibledevice with an outside electronic equipment.

Furthermore, the functional element 30 is not limited to the flexibletouch screen or the flexible display mentioned above, and may alsoinclude other types of functional elements, such as other types ofdisplay screens/indicators, functional sensors, speakers, microphonesand so on, according to different requirements. Other types of displayscreens/indicators may be such as hard displays, electronic ink screens,LED luminescent plates in various sizes, which can be fixed on the topsurface of the supporting plate 34. The functional sensors may include abody temperature sensor, a temperature sensor, a speed sensor, a gravitysensor, a height sensor, an angular velocity sensor, an accelerationsensor, a pressure sensor, a heart rate sensor, a pulse sensor, a sweatsensor, a light sensor, an electromyography sensor and so on, which maybe disposed at different positions of the flexible device, such as thetop surface of the supporting plate 34, the chamber defined by thesupporting plate 34 and the casing 10, or the bottom surface of thecasing 10, etc., according to different use purpose. The speaker andmicrophone may also be disposed in the chamber defined by the supportingplate 34 and the casing 10.

Further referring to FIGS. 16-18, when the flexible device is needed tobe switched to the first state, the flexible device can be spread out,in such a case, the supporting plate 34 is in the plate shape, the firstmovable elements 22 at each side of the flexible device are arranged ina line, and the second movable elements 24 at each side of the flexibledevice are also arranged in a line. Adjacent first movable elements 22are spaced apart from each other with the side surfaces 222 of adjacentfirst movable elements 22 forming a gap, and the gap between theadjacent first movable elements 22 gradually increases in width from topto bottom, thereby forming a trapezoidal shape. Adjacent second movableelements 24 are spaced apart from each other with the side surfaces 222of adjacent first movable elements 22 forming a gap, and the gap betweenthe adjacent second movable elements 24 gradually increases in widthfrom top to bottom, thereby forming a trapezoidal shape. The top surfaceof the first movable element 22 and the top surface of the secondmovable element 24 adjacent to the first movable element 22 are notdistributed continuously. When the flexible device is needed to beswitched to the second state, the flexible device is bent, in such acase, the supporting plate 34 is in an arc shape with a radian less than360 degrees. The first movable elements 22 at each side of the flexibledevice are arranged into an arc shape, and the second movable elements24 at each side of the flexible device are arranged into an arc shape.Adjacent first movable elements 22 are abutted against each other, and aside surface 222 of one of the adjacent first movable elements 22 is incontact with a side surface 222, opposite to the side surface 222 of oneof the adjacent first movable elements 22, of the other of the adjacentfirst movable elements 22. Adjacent second movable elements 24 areabutted against each other, and a side surface 242 of one of theadjacent second movable elements 24 is in contact with a side surface242, opposite to the side surface 242 of one of the adjacent secondmovable elements 24, of the other of the adjacent second movableelements 24. As a consequence, a bending degree of the flexible deviceis restricted within a required range. In particular, after bending, thetop surfaces of the first movable elements 22 at each side of theflexible device together constitute a continuous arc with a radiangreater than 270 degrees, and the top surfaces of the second movableelements 22 at each side of the flexible device also together constitutea continuous arc with a radian greater than 270 degrees. As aconsequence, the flexible touch screen or the flexible display can bepresented as a near-perfect ring, thereby giving a better experience tothe user no matter in using or in viewing. In the second state, theflexible device can be worn on the wrist of the user to act as a smartbracelet. Of course, in the second state, the flexible device can alsobe worn on the arm, waist, thigh, calf, neck, forehead, etc.

Due to the use of the first movable element 22 and the second movableelement 24, the flexible assembly 20 in embodiments of the presentdisclosure not only has a higher strength and a longer longevity ascompared with the material having flexibility per se (such as softplastic, fabric band, etc.), but can be formulated to have a requiredbending angle, thereby having a wider application range and meeting theapplication requirements at different occasions. Of course, the flexibleassembly 20 may also be made of flexible materials in some situationswhere requirements are not high.

In addition, considering that the electronic devices, such as thecontroller 40, the battery 50, the communication module, etc., are notresistant to bending, in order to protect these electronic devices, thecasing 10 may further include two end covers 16 disposed at two oppositeends of the flexible device, respectively. The two end covers 16 havethe same structure and are arranged symmetrically. Each end cover 16 maybe manufactured with the same hard material as the first connector 12and the second connector 14. Each end cover 16 includes a baseplate 160and a side wall 162 extending upward from a margin of the baseplate 160.The baseplate 160 is substantially in a semicircular shape, and its areais larger than an area of the baseplate 120 of the first connector 12 orthe baseplate 140 of the second connector 14, and larger than a totalarea of the baseplates 120, 140 of the first connector 12 and the secondconnector 14. The baseplate 160 is provided with two steps 164 at twoopposite sides and close to the margin thereof, and each step 164 isprovided with two screw holes at a top surface thereof. The side wall162 is provided with a flange on a top surface and close to an outerside thereof. The supporting plate 34 is also abutted against the topsurface of the side wall 162 and an inner side of the flange. Due to thelarger area of the baseplate 160, the end cover 16 can provide a largerspace to accommodate the electronic devices which are not resistant tobending. For example, the battery 50 can be accommodated in one endcover 16, and the electronic devices like the controller 40, thecommunication module and a circuit board can be accommodated in theother end cover 16. The battery 50 is connected with the controller 40,the communication module and the circuit board through a wire. Theflexible touch screen or flexible display is connected with the circuitboard through a flexible circuit board, thereby realizing the electricalconnection with the controller 40, the communication module and thebattery 50. As the battery 50 and the controller 40 are respectivelydisposed in the two end covers 16, they also respectively located at twoopposite ends of the flexible assembly 20. The battery 50 and thecontroller 40 will move along with the deformation of the flexibleassembly 20, and a distance between the battery 50 and the controller 40will be changed also. In particular, the distance between the battery 50and the controller 40 will decrease with deformation of the flexibleassembly 20 towards the second state.

By setting the battery 50 and other electronic devices in two separatedend covers 16, inner space of the flexible device can be effectivelysaved, thereby enabling the flexible device to be lighter, thinner andsmaller. Furthermore, the separation of the battery 50 from otherelectronic devices can also prevent an interaction between the battery50 and other electronic devices caused by heat generated during theiroperations, thereby ensuring normal operations of the battery 50 andother electronic devices.

Referring to FIG. 10, the flexible assembly 20 may further include athird movable element 21 for connecting the end cover 16 with the firstmovable element 22 or the second movable element 24 adjacent to the endcover 16. The third movable element 21 includes a pedestal 210 and aplate 212 disposed on a top surface of the pedestal 210. The pedestal210 is parallel to the top surface of the step 164 of the end cover 16,and the plate 212 is perpendicular to the top surface of the step 164.The plate 212 has a shape similar to that of a part having thepositioning slot 226, 246 of the first movable element 22 or the secondmovable element 24, and is also provided with a positioning slot 216.The positioning slot 216 of the plate 212 has the same shape as that ofthe positioning slot 226, 246 of the first movable element 22 or thesecond movable element 24. Similar to the first movable element 22 orthe second movable element 24, a positioning element 202 passes throughthe positioning slot 216 of the plate 212 and enters into thepositioning hole 228, 248 of the first movable element 22 or the secondmovable element 24 adjacent to the third movable element 21, so as tomovably connect the third movable element 21 with the first movableelement 22 or the second movable element 24 adjacent to the thirdmovable element 21. The positioning element 202 includes a firstpositioning shaft 290 and a second positioning shaft 292, and an end ofthe first positioning shaft 290 is locked in a restricting element 204after passing through the first movable element 22 or the second movableelement 24 adjacent to the third movable element 21. The restrictingelement 204 has a same structure and function as that of the restrictingelement 204 described hereinbefore. The pedestal 210 is locked on thetop surface of the step 164 of the end cover 16 through a fastener, suchas a screw.

Further referring to FIGS. 8-9, due to the limited space of the endcover 16, a capacity of the battery 50 accommodated in the end cover 16is limited. In order to enable the flexible device to be used for alonger time, the flexible device may be provided with another battery 60(i.e., a second battery 60). Capacity of the battery 60 is less thanthat of the battery 50. The battery 60 may be disposed at a suitableposition of the flexible device according to requirements. Inembodiments of the present disclosure, the battery 60 is disposed at themiddle part of the flexible device. Correspondingly, a protectingstructure is provided at the middle part of the flexible device toprevent the battery 60 from being bent. Specifically, the casing 10 ofthe flexible device is provided with a third connector 18 at the middlepart thereof. The third connector 18 has a structure similar to that ofthe first connector 12 or the second connector 14, except that the thirdconnector 18 has a larger area as compared with that of the firstconnector 12 or the second connector 14. The third connector 18 includesa baseplate 180, a side wall 182 and a step 184, which have structuressimilar to that of the corresponding parts of the first connector 12 orthe second connector 14, except for the larger size in width. Inembodiments of the present disclosure, the baseplate 180 of the thirdconnector 18 has a width more than two times of that of the baseplate120 of the first connector 12 or the baseplate 140 of the secondconnector 14, so as to accommodate the battery 60. Correspondingly, theflexible assembly 20 further includes a fourth movable element 23 and afifth movable element 25. The fourth movable element 23 is composed oftwo symmetrical plates (i.e., a left plate and a right plate), and eachplate has a structure and shape similar to that of the part includingthe positioning slot 226, 246 of the first movable element 22 or thesecond movable element 24. Top surfaces of the two plates togetherconstitute a continuous arc surface to serve as a supporting surface,and a top part of the supporting surface is served as a fixing pointfixed to the bottom surface of the supporting plate 34. Each plate isprovided with a positioning slot 230, which has a shape and structuresimilar to that of the positioning slot 226 of the first movable element22 or the positioning slot 246 of the second movable element 24. Inparticular, the positioning slot 230 of the left plate is slightlytilted to a left side of the fourth movable element 23, and thepositioning slot 230 of the right plate is slightly tilted to a rightside of the fourth movable element 23. Two fifth movable elements 25 aremovably connected to two opposite sides of the fourth movable element23, respectively. Shape and structure of the fifth movable element 25are basically the same as that of the first movable element 22 or thesecond movable element 24, except that the fifth movable element 25 isprovided with two through-holes at a position corresponding to thepositioning slot 226, 246 of the first movable element 22 or the secondmovable element 24. Therefore, the fifth movable element 25 has fourthrough-holes 250, two of which are close to the fourth movable element23 and referred as first through-holes 250, and the other two of whichare far away from the fourth movable element 23 and referred as secondthrough-holes 250. The two first through-holes 250 are movably connectedwith the fourth movable element 23 through a positioning element 202,and the two second through-holes 250 are movably connected with thefirst movable element 22 or the second movable element 24 adjacent tothe fifth movable element 25 through a positioning element 202. Inembodiments of the present disclosure, the positioning element 202connecting the fifth movable element 25 and the fourth movable element23 includes a first positioning element 26 a, which includes a firstpositioning shaft 260 a and a second positioning shaft 262 a. The firstpositioning shaft 260 a includes a pillar, and the second positioningshaft 262 a includes a screw. The pillar has a same shape and structureas that of the pillar mentioned hereinbefore, and the screw has a sameshape and structure as that of the screw mentioned hereinbefore. Thepillar and screw pass through the positioning slot 230 of the fourthmovable element 23 and enter into two through-holes 250 of the fifthmovable element 25, respectively. Moreover, an end of the screw islocked in the restricting element 204 after passing through the fifthmovable element 25. The positioning element 202 connecting the fourthmovable element 23 and the first movable element 22 or second movableelement 24 adjacent to the fourth movable element 23 includes a secondpositioning element 28 a, which includes a first positioning shaft 280 aand a second positioning shaft 282 a. The first positioning shaft 280 aincludes a screw, and a second positioning shaft 282 a includes aconnecting rod. The screw has a same shape and construction as that ofthe screw mentioned hereinbefore, and the connecting rod has a sameshape and construction as that of the connecting rod mentionedhereinbefore. The screw and connecting rod pass through the positioningslot 226, 246 of the first movable element 22 or the second movableelement 24 and enter into two through-holes 250 of the fifth movableelement 25, respectively. Moreover, an end of the screw is locked in therestricting element 204 after passing through the fifth movable element25. An end of the connecting rod passes through a fifth movable element25 at one of the two opposite sides of the flexible device and entersinto a fifth movable element 25 and a first movable element 22 or asecond movable element 24 at the other of the two opposite sides of theflexible device, so as to fasten the flexible device. Particularly, theconnecting rod is disposed in the through-hole of the fifth movableelement 25 which is farthest from the fourth movable element 23, therebyleaving a sufficient space between two connecting rods to accommodatethe battery 60 and avoiding such a case that a distance between the twoconnecting rods is too short to displace the battery 60.

With the cooperation of the two batteries 50, 60, the using time of theflexible device can be effectively increased. Moreover, since thebattery 60 is disposed in the middle part of the flexible device, whenthe flexible device is used as a smart bracelet, the battery 60 islocated at a position corresponding to a backside, a flattest part, ofthe wrist, so that the bottom of the baseplate 180 of the thirdconnector 18 can be effectively attached to the backside of the wrist,thereby reducing or eliminating discomfort caused by the inconsistentflatness of attached faces.

1. A flexible device, comprising a casing; a functional element mountedon the casing; and a flexible assembly which is deformable and mountedon the casing, wherein a deformation of the flexible assembly drives theflexible device to deform accordingly.
 2. The flexible device accordingto claim 1, wherein the flexible assembly comprises a movable elementand a positioning element connecting with the movable elements.
 3. Theflexible device according to claim 2, wherein the flexible assemblycomprises two types of movable elements disposed at each of two oppositesides of the casing, and the positioning element connects the two typesof movable elements disposed at one of the two opposite sides of thecasing and the two types of movable elements disposed at the other ofthe two opposite sides of the casing, the positioning element comprisesa continuous connecting rod, an end of the connecting rod is insertedinto the two types of movable elements disposed at one of the twoopposite sides of the casing, and an opposite end of the connecting rodis inserted into the two types of movable elements disposed at the otherof the two opposite sides of the casing.
 4. (canceled)
 5. The flexibledevice according to claim 2, wherein the flexible assembly furthercomprises a restricting element abutted against the movable element andmovably sleeved on the positioning element, thus a damping of theflexible assembly is controlled when the flexible assembly is deformed.6. The flexible device according to claim 2, wherein the movable elementcomprises a first movable element and a second movable element which ismovable relative to the first movable element, and the first movableelement and the second movable element are movably connected through thepositioning element.
 7. The flexible device according to claim 6,wherein the first movable element is parallel to the second movableelement and staggeredly connected with the second movable element. 8.The flexible device according to claim 6, wherein the second movableelement comprises a positioning slot, and the positioning elementcomprises a first positioning element slidably through the positioningslot.
 9. The flexible device according to claim 8, wherein the firstpositioning element comprises a first positioning shaft and a secondpositioning shaft spaced apart from the first positioning shaft, andboth the first positioning shaft and the second positioning shaft passthrough the positioning slot.
 10. The flexible device according to claim9, wherein a distance between the first positioning shaft and the secondpositioning shaft of the first positioning element is unchanged with thedeformation of the flexible assembly.
 11. The flexible device accordingto claim 9, wherein an end of the first positioning shaft of the firstpositioning element passes through the positioning slot, a nutcomprising an elastic piece is sleeved on the end of the firstpositioning shaft, and the elastic piece is disposed between the nut andthe second movable element and elastically abutted against the nut andthe second movable element.
 12. The flexible device according to claim8, wherein the second movable element further comprises a through-holespaced apart from the positioning slot, and the positioning elementfurther comprises a second positioning element through the through-hole.13. The flexible device according to claim 12, wherein a length of thesecond positioning element is greater than that of the first positioningelement.
 14. The flexible device according to claim 12, wherein thesecond positioning element comprises a first positioning shaft and asecond positioning shaft, and the second positioning shaft of the secondpositioning element connects two second movable elements disposed at thetwo opposite sides of the casing.
 15. The flexible device according toclaim 6, wherein the casing comprises a first connector and a secondconnector which are spaced apart from each other and connected with theflexible assembly.
 16. The flexible device according to claim 15,wherein the first connector and the second connector remain spaced apartfrom each other when the flexible assembly is deformed.
 17. The flexibledevice according to claim 15, wherein the first connector and the secondconnector have different structures, and a plurality of the firstconnectors and a plurality of the second connectors are alternatelyarranged to constitute the casing.
 18. The flexible device according toclaim 15, wherein the first connector and the second connector eachcomprises a baseplate, and a bottom of the flexible assembly is abuttedagainst and fixed to the baseplates of the first connector and thesecond connector.
 19. The flexible device according to claim 18, whereineach of the first movable element and the second movable element isabutted against the baseplates of the first connector and the secondconnector.
 20. The flexible device according to claim 19, wherein thefirst connector and the second connector each comprise a baffleprotruded on a surface of the baseplate, and the first movable elementand the second movable element are together disposed between the bafflesof the first connector and the second connector.
 21. The flexible deviceaccording to claim 20, wherein the baffle of the first connector isabutted against an outer surface of the first movable element, and thebaffle of the second connector is abutted against an inner surface ofthe second movable element.